Title: The True Meaning of Hero
Author: DemonicangelGREED
Summary: After watching his mentor and best friend die, Ziggy ran out into the Wastes where he met an old survivor who taught him what love and family were truly about. After a terrible accident Ziggy meets Dillon and goes back to the city he ran from.
Warnings: Slash fic, will eventually be Dillon/Ziggy, cage fighting and murder.
Pairings: Dillon/Ziggy
Chapter 9
Three weeks passed.
Three weeks in which there was no Ziggy to lighten the mood, three weeks where there would be no one in the kitchen cooking merely because he wanted to be. Three weeks for Dillon to go from slightly anti-social to downright social pariah. The other rangers tried to be happy but every time they went into the ranger room and caught sight of the steel door which kept their green ranger away from them the mood when for a fragile happy to a shattered sorrow.
It only took three weeks for Ziggy's childish influence to leave the garage completely, and for Scott to demand that they storm Venjix's castle. Luckily for the red ranger he was immediately back up by Dillon who stared down both Dr K and his sister who had started to protest against this.
"We will finish this war" Dillon growled out and then waved at each ranger who looked pale and tired "have you not seen how this war is affecting us" he demanded "We are tired and lost so much" he whispered and then looked at the door that was the only barrier between him and Ziggy.
Flynn nodded and stepped up next to the black ranger "I agree with these two, I want this to end" he said in a firm voice.
The yellow ranger steeled her eyes and stepped forward to stand in line with her team "I don't want to keep fighting!" she said in a strong voice.
Gem and Gemma didn't have to say anything, the seriousness of their expressions and the fact that they stepped forward in line with the others made where they stood on the issue very clear. DR K and Tenaya looked at the rangers in front of them and then sighed knowing they couldn't be persuaded differently.
"Very well, in two days time, we end this war…for good" Dr K said straightening her shoulders "and we can finally right the wrong I inflicted upon this world"
Each ranger smiled slightly and was about to thank their mentor when a loud snarl filled the room and then a pained howl. Each person in the room shot their gaze towards the steel door and then back at Dr K who was staring at one of her screen intently.
"Doc what's happening back there" Scott asked in a tired voice.
The young woman sighed and looked at her rangers with sad eyes "His human side is still fighting the change but its losing. The worst thing is the battle is slowly tearing apart Ziggy's mind"
Summer quickly wiped a tear from her cheek and then walked out of the room mumbling something about getting ready for the upcoming battle. Next to leave was Flynn who was no doubt going to stare and fiddle with the bright green bike that had belonged to the green ranger. Gem and Gemma left holding each other making a whimpering noise, Scott clapped Dillon on the shoulder and the black ranger just walked over to the door and slid down the wall humming the song that Ziggy had been obsessed with.
Suddenly the growling and howling stopped and Dillon heard a faint whine come through the door next to his head. The black ranger smiled sadly and hummed a little louder and suddenly the room was filled with Ziggy's weak but beautiful voice humming along with the black ranger who didn't do anything to stop the tears that were running down his cheeks.
Ziggy pulled away from the door when he heard Dillon start to sob, and buried his hands in his hair to stop the wave of pain that spread through his body. He was so tired, but he knew that if he slept too much his body would shut down and the wolf would win, and didn't he promise Dillon he'd keep fighting.
Smiled sadly Ziggy hugged his knees to his chest as he leant against his bed and quietly sung to himself "Early one morning, just as the sun was rising: I heard a maiden sing in the valley below" he sung and then grinned as Dr K directed the song through the speakers into his room.
H e may not have been able to talk to any of the team but hearing them and having them do things like this for them was enough to keep him sane, but he couldn't help but wonder for how long.
The next two days passed extremely fast for the rangers who were in a flurry of activity getting ready to storm Venjix's palace out in the wastes. But they were now ready and getting ready to head out with Tenaya who seemed to be extremely nervous about going back to the place that had practically killed her when she had tried to escape, but as soon as Dillon put a hand on her shoulder and nodded at her once the ex-attack bot seemed to calm and they each turned to Dr K who smiled at them tiredly.
"well I can't help but feel a little nervous" she said and then shot Ziggy's door an anxious glance before she straighten and turned back to her operational ranger. "We have lost much and fought hard, but today we will strike and we will destroy Venjix forever"
Scott saluted their mentor which each ranger quickly mimicked before they each turned to their cars and jumped in before they each peeled out of the garage. Once they were all gone Dr K rushed to Ziggy's door and activated the mic on the inside.
'Ziggy we have a problem" she said in a scared voice.
It took a moment for the ex-green ranger to reply but when he did it was with a deep guttural voice that confirmed that he hadn't been sleeping much. "What is it doc?"
The young woman swallowed and pressed her palm to the door "The team has gone to finish Venjix, but they can't do it, not without the last ranger" she said in a hurried voice.
Ziggy growled and Dr K winced at the beastly sound he was emitting "Now is not a good time" he snarled and then the mic was shut off on Ziggy's end.
Dr K stared at the door for a moment before she bit her lip and stepped away from the door and then over to her computer screen where the program which would morph Ziggy with his wolf genes was finished and waiting to be activated. Sighing the young woman ignored the screen and turned to her other screens where her ranger statuses were displayed.
"Please let it be enough" she prayed.
The drive to the palace was tense and each ranger was focused on their own thing, but as soon as they got a little more than half way they were attacked by grinders. Quickly morphing they took care of them, but not without injury, Scott had twisted his ankle and Flynn was sure that if he was hit once more on his wrist that it would be broken.
Deciding to leave the vehicles where they were the six rangers plus Tenaya began the slow trek to the large mechanical palace. When the monstrosity was in sight each of the rangers looked at each other a final time before Scott took action.
"Well guys…it's been an honor" he said in a strong voice, one which you would expect from a hardened leader.
Dillon nodded and then took a deep breath. Then as one the seven of them descended on palace and their armies. The ranger were quickly surrounded by grinders which they dealt with easily, it wasn't until Crush and Smash raced out onto the battle field that the fight took a turn for the worst.
Flynn was right when he had said that he might have broken his wrist because as soon as Crush gripped it, it snapped like a twig making the bluer anger grit his teeth against the pain and lash out at the bulky general with a vicious kick. Seeing his plight Tenaya quickly rushed over to help him before radioing Dr K.
"K we got bad news, Flynn has broken his wrist" she said as she fought back the general she had hated the most.
"Stay by his side Tenaya we only have one shot at this, I fear the team may have to split up" Dr K snapped from her ear piece making her grimace.
"Got it" she said before turning off her ear piece.
Scott" She roared: the red leader who swung her way for a moment to show her he was listening, "Take Dillon and the twins and go ahead, Summer Flynn and I got this" she said delivering a brutal kick to crush's face making him fly into the sand a few meters away.
The red ranger nodded and then took the three other rangers deep inside the palace where they came face to face with a panther looking machine which snarled and clawed at them. Gem and Gemma pushed the red and Black ranger passed and then settled into fighting stances.
"Go on ahead-" Gem said
"We got this" The silver ranger finished for her brother.
Scott looked at Dillon and then nodded to the twins and rushed off down the hall. Gem and Gemma turned to the cat like attack bot and grinned at each other.
"You wanna lay" gem mocked
"Little Kitty" Gemma said and then the panther leapt.
The cat snarled at the gold Ranger who leapt on its back and Gemma ran underneath it and was about to strike when Dr K's joyful voice flowed through the com link.
"Don't worry rangers: help is on the way"
Ziggy listened to Tenaya's scared radio transmission and then dragged himself over to the mic and pressed the on button "Doc talk to me" he croaked
"It's bad" she said in a trembling voice "Flynn has a broken wrist and the team had to split up so they could actually enter the palace"
The green ranger sighed and leant against the cool wall before making up his mind "Doc before when you asked me to fight. Did you have a way to get me out of here" he gritted out as his inner wolf howled and trashed in his blood.
"Yes, I've created a program which will permanently bond you with you wolf genes making you the perfect blend of wolf and human"
Ziggy looked down at his hands and swallowed tightly "doc I need you to activate the program now" he said in a firm voice.
A moment passed before the young woman replied "Are you sure Ranger green, if I do this there is no going back later" Ziggy grinned as she referred to him by his old title and straightened his shoulders.
'Do it" he ordered.
Dr K sighed and then he heard her relieved muttering "very well" she said and then the computerized voice flowed through his speakers.
"Ranger Green Wolf/Human gene fusion-begin now"
Ziggy took a deep breath and suddenly white hot pain flared through his body. His teeth felt like they were being ripped from his gums, his nose left like he had just snorted acid, his eyes felt like he had just poked them with a white hot poker and his muscles felt like they were being ripped apart. The young man left out a feral roar and then it all just stopped, and everything was clearer and sharper.
"Ziggy?" Dr K asked nervously "Are you okay"
The green ranger rolled his shoulder and nodded "Yeah doc, open the doors" he said.
The young woman unlocked the doors and when they swung open she rushed into Ziggy's awaiting arms before handing him his old ranger jacket and morphor. It wasn't until he smiled that the young genius spotted the elongated canines and his more golden brown eyes.
"You look practically the same" she confirmed and then followed him over to the nitro bike and handed him his helmet.
"Yeah what'd you expect, for me to have doggy ears" he joked as he started up the bike sighing happily at its comforting roar. Dr k rolled her eyes at the young rangers joke and stepped back when he pulled the helmet on obscuring his face from view behind the visor.
"Remember Venjix is out for blood" she warned.
Ziggy nodded and then revved his engine once "Good. Because so am I" he growled and the blurred out of the garage and out into the city.
Dr K watched as he became nothing but a green blur and then ran to her computer where she saw Gem and Gemma now fighting some sort of panther bot. grinning she put her ear piece back in her ear and cleared her throat and then opened all com links.
"Don't worry help is on the way" she said beaming as she looked at Ziggy's ranger screen, which had his new status as a genetically re-mastered and altered Bio-weapon human in the spot under his name where: Unknown used to be.
Sand flew passed Ziggy as he pushed his bike to the limit. He didn't know how long he could keep going at this pace but he did know that his team needed him. The thing that made him so giddy about this next fight was that for once in his life he felt complete. He didn't feel like he was missing something, he didn't feel like he needed something more he felt at peace.
Skidding to a stop when he spotted the fury Ziggy dismounted his bike and then radioed into to Dr K "Ah doc I just found the others cars, what's going on here" he asked in an edgy voice.
"Keep going Ranger Green. The others are about half an hour forward and hurry I don't think that they will be able to last much longer" Ziggy nodded and then looked down at his morphor.
"RPM: Get in Gear" he called and then he was enveloped in the calm warm aura that belonged to ranger Green. "It's good to be back!" he called and then began to run in the direction of the palace.
When the sounds of fighting reached his ears the younger ranger stopped and crawled over the next sand dune to get a good look on the scene down below. But when he saw Tenaya's bruised and bloody form and Flynn's broken one he let out a feral snarl and leapt into the fray below not caring about any damage he sustained.
"Ziggy?" Summer shouted when she saw the agile fighter cut his way to Flynn's side.
The Green ranger saluted her quickly before he lifted the blue ranger up and then began to move to an outcropping of steel with Tenaya clearing the way for him. Placing his friend down carefully Ziggy gripped his shoulder in comradeship and then looked at Tenaya who was breathing heavily.
"Look after Flynn I'll go and help the others" he said and then turned to Summer who was gripping her upper arm tightly. Smiling at the girl he hugged her once before giving her a sad nod "Fight to the end right?"
The Yellow ranger sucked in a ragged breath and then nodded before gripping his forearm "Fight to the end" she said and then turned back to the battle "You coming Tenaya?"
Ziggy took a calming breath and then raced into the palace. A few minutes in he froze when he saw the two limping and broken forms of Gem and Gemma sliding down the wall a destroyed and broken panther attack-bot in pieces of to the side.
"Gem! Gemma!" he shouted in fear and rushed to their sides.
The gold and silver Rangers-who had lost their helmets sometime in the battle smiled up at their young brother and then at each other "Go, we'll" Gem said
"Be fine" Gemma said sucking in a pained breath.
The green ranger pulled their foreheads to rest on his own and gripped them tightly against him "I will finish this I promise you" he whispered to them and then stood up and face the direction where Scott's and Dillon's scent was wafting from.
Growling low in his throat he ran down the halls and then encountered a large attack-bot in the form of a dinosaur, "Look you caught me at a really bad time" he snarled and leapt for the beast.
"Ranger Green you must hurry, Scott and Dillon have encountered Venjix's material body and have engaged him in battle" Dr K said of the com.
Ziggy growled in frustration and then summoned up all the wolf I him and punched his hand through the dinosaur's eyes and into the chip in its head. "I'm on it" he said ripping the chip out making the Tyrannosaurus fall down.
Wiping his oil stained hand on the wall next to him Ziggy took off down the halls again until he reach a large cavern where a large robot was battling an injuried Dillon and all conscious Scott. The smug expression on the machine's face was enough to identify him to the green ranger.
"Oi Venjix!"
Dillon froze as the voice rang out around the cavern and turned towards it, he swore when he saw the blood and oil stained form of the green ranger standing in the entrance of the carven staring at his creator he was going to cry.
"Interesting your bio-field doesn't represent that of a human" Venjix commented and then pushed Scott off where he slammed into a wall and didn't get up, the only sign of life being the moan of pain that resounded out of his chest.
The green ranger jumped towards them and landed in a crouch a meter away from them before letting out a low growl "Because I'm so much more than a human" he said and Dillon knew what had happened to his friend: he and the wolf were one.
This caught Venjix's attention and he gripped Dillon's throat and threw him over by Scott before turning towards the younger man "By your readings I can already tell you are no hybrid" he commented lightly. "Could you be the special little boy that survived the Gene fusion program?"
Ziggy raised his hands in a defensive pose and let out a deep growl "Oh I'm so much more than a experiment" he said and then leapt at the virus wanting to beat it into nothingness.
Venjix caught Ziggy and slammed him to the ground cracking his visor, and then as a retaliation Ziggy buried his hand into the shoulder cavity of the robot and pulled out a bunch of wires making the machine haul him up and then deliver a strong punch to his stomach. Gasping from the force of the attack Ziggy wasn't able to defend himself from the Knee that came up into his face making him stumble backwards.
"Well I'm a little disappointed really" Venjix said ignoring the sparking that was coming from his shoulder as he approached Ziggy "You were supposed to be some fierce hybrid, both animal and human but all I see if a boy playing dress up"
Ziggy felt the snarl and more feral side of him come to the surface at these words and for once didn't fight the feeling and let the best take over and n his mind it was as if something slid into place and as soon as Venjix was within distance he lashed out with his hand and grabbed him on the hip strut.
"Huh?" the machine said dumbly
The green ranger grinned happily and then used his grip on the robot and his upper body strength to swing himself up and twist his legs up so he could deliver a flashy and powerful kick to the machines. when the kick connected a loud crunch echoed through the cavern and Venjix let out a howl of pain before grabbing Ziggy by the thigh and slammed him face down on the floor making some of the glass in his visor fall away revealing his wolven eyes to his opponent.
Ziggy looked at the damage he had inflicted and let out a satisfied growl before he straightened from the crouch he was in. Both he and Venjix knew that this battle was more than just a fight to the death it was a battle of the species, if Ziggy lost then Humanity had no chance as he was the ultimate bio-genetic weapon.
"You little mutt" Venjix roared.
The insult made Ziggy's hackles rise and with a loud snarl he leapt towards the machine and buried his hand in the shoulder wound he had already made. The Virus grinned at him and then brought his large hand down onto his shoulder making it crack painfully. Ziggy snarled and then flipped making his shoulder crack even more but managed to kick the robot in the neck taking out its voice box.
"Ranger Green you've sustain multiple injuries I suggest you take care of this body now so you can take out the tower quickly" Dr K said urgently.
Ziggy nodded and then summoned his Nitro axe and swung it up onto his injured shoulder like he would a baseball bat and pointed at the now mute and made a come and get me motion. The Robot surged towards him and struck down trying to break his other shoulder, but met the blade of the nitro axe instead.
The green ranger jumped up and swung his axe down on the injured shoulder of the machine and cleaved it off the robot's form making him let out a slight roar of pain. Heaving a tired breath from his body Ziggy collapsed onto his axe using it to support him up when Dillon and Scott where by his side helping him back up.
"Guys?"
The red ranger looked at the battered green ranger and patted his head fondly before he turned to the evil machine "Thanks for keeping him busy for us Zig" he said summoning his street saber.
"But we're all better now so, now we got your back" Dillon said as he called forth his blaster and rested it on his shoulder like Ziggy did with his axe.
The younger ranger swung his axe up and then machine face the three battered ranger with furious optics and then surged forward. Scott faced the beast head on while Dillon flipped over his back and shot him in the leg struts making him fall to his knees.
"Ziggy now!" Scott shouted.
The green ranger nodded and then jumped up before slashing down with his axe cutting right through the main body of the robot. Venjix let out another silent scream and then its eyes faded to black and he collapsed.
"rangers black and green quickly!" Dr K said urgently.
Dillon hauled Ziggy to his feet and then connected their weapons together. But the weight of the weapon seemed to be too much and the two of them stumbled under the weight of it until they felt several pairs of hands helping them hoist it up. Looking to their sides Ziggy found that the whole team and pulled themselves to their sides and were helping them support the large weapon.
"let's finish this" Summer said her suit torn and ripped from the amount of grinders she fought.
Flynn who had pulled himself up off the ground nodded. Scott looked at the two rangers and saluted them "Go on" he said "we got your backs"
Ziggy and Dillon looked at each other and then summoned the last of their energy making their weapon light up brightly "Every give us all your energy" Ziggy said looking back at the other rangers.
Each ranger nodded and suddenly the large weapon began to shine a bright white, grinning Dillon looked over at Ziggy who winked at him with his one visible eyes and then as one they called out their new and improved attack.
"Shinning Imperial blast" then a large white glimmering blast resonated from the cannon and struck the large tower in front of them.
The rangers watched in awe as their attack turned the large tower into nothing but dust, when the light faded from the cannon each of the ranger stared at the spot where their greatest rival used to stand.
"Ranger….Congratulations: you just beat Venjix" Dr K said in an emotionally joyful voice.
Ziggy looked at his shaking hands and then let out a loud cheer which then made the others start, Dillon finished hugging Flynn when Ziggy's helmet faded completely from view, taking a deep breath he tapped the young ranger on the shoulder.
"Oi wolf boy" he said with a smirk.
The green ranger slowly turned around and stared at Dillon with a beaming smile "Yeah machine man?"
Dillon stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Ziggy's waist and pulled him flush against me "Nothing I just wanted to say hi" he said and then caught Ziggy's pleased smile with his own and kissed his with all the passion he'd locked up for three weeks making the other ranger wolf whistle and cheer happily.
When Dillon finally pulled back Ziggy caressed his cheek tenderly and smiled at him warmly "I missed you too" he whispered and buried his face in Dillon's chest.
When the rangers arrived back at the Garage Dr K was waiting for them all and grabbed Ziggy in a tight hug when he dismounted his bike. The other rangers all hugged him tightly and Dillon even slung his arm around his shoulders when they entered the ranger room where Scott's father was waiting.
"Dad?" Scott asked in confusion.
The colonel looked at the rangers with pride and then focused on Ziggy and then nodded "You each did your job brilliantly" he said with a firm voice and then saluted them with a smile that the red ranger hadn't seen since Venjix had attacked.
Scott smiled tearfully and then saluted him back, Ziggy took a step forward until he was in line with his leader and then saluted the man with a bright smile, Flynn was next and saluted him with his good wrist who was followed by the yellow ranger and then the boom twins and finally Dillon, each smiling at him in their own way.
"It's been a honor" Coronel Manson said and then saluted them letting his hand fall to his side, and then turned to Dr K. "If I may I would like to talk to you privately" The young woman nodded and motioned to the ranger room.
"If I can get a word with each of you separately later that would make my life very easy" he added as he followed the young genius into the ranger room.
Each of the rangers nodded and then Ziggy stretched and looked at his new family with a hopeful look "Guys I know we're all tired and want to sleep but I was hoping that I could share something with each of you" he asked taking Dillon's hand.
The black ranger nodded and gave him a confused look, "Sure Zig, what is it?"
The green ranger smiled and then looked at each of the other rangers who were each giving him bright smiles "I want to show you all where I meet Cid" he said and all the rangers gave him shocked looks "I want to show you Kilika"
The ride to Kilika took all of thirty minutes, but when they were there Ziggy took them to the stone grave he had made for the man who had taken him in and then laid his goggled on the top of them after giving them a loving kiss.
"Cid thank you" he whispered "but I don't need these anymore"
Ziggy got up and walked back to Summer who was holding her arms open lovingly. Dillon looked at him and then back at the grave before he walked up to it making the other rangers frown at him in confusion.
"Cid" the black ranger said in a wavering voice "I just want to…to thank you" he said clearing his throat and wiped at his eyes "I never met you, but if it wasn't for you I would never have met Ziggy, and without Ziggy….I can't imagine life without him." He said letting out a huge breath and then looked back at Ziggy who was holding a hand to his mouth holding back his tears, giving him a small smile Dillon turned back to the grave "you don't have to worry about him anymore: I'll look after him" he whispered and then walked back to the team.
Ziggy waited until he was a meter or so away from him before he launched himself at him and kissed his desperately "I love you, I truly do" he whispered tearfully and clutched Dillon to him tighter even as the other rangers watched them happily: and if the sun burned a little brighter after this everyone chalked this up to the radiation leaving the air.